Buttonhole working attachment for sewing machines



v Jan. 10, 1933.: SPAULDlNG 1,893,912

BUTTONHOLE WORKING ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Dec. 9, 1931 4 sheetS-sheet l BUTTONHOLE WORKING ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Dec. 9, 1951 4 Sheets-Shem; 2

Jan. 10, 1933.

4 Sheets-Sheet 5 F. SPAULDING BUTTONHOLE WORKING ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed D80. 9, 1931 Jan. 10, 1933.. 1,893,912

BUTTONHOLE' WORKING ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES F. SPAULDING Filed Dec. 9, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Jan. 1%, 1933 FRANKLIN SPAULDING,

err

OF CHICAGO, ILLINQIS BUTTONHOLE WORKING ATTACEIIVZENT FUR SEWING MACHINES Application filed. December 9, 1931.

sizes without the necessity of feeding or gui 1- ing the material by the operator.

A further object is to provide in a device of this character improved means whereby the feedin movement of the material will be accelerated the end of the buttonhole is approached, whereby the stitches will be prevented from piling up at the ends of the bnttonhole. and will be maintained regular and uniform, thereby obviating the formation of thick and unsightly ends, and improved means whereby the same results will be accomplished by sewing once around the buttonhole, that has heretofore necessitated sewing twice around the buttonhole.

A further object is to provide an improved device of this character by means of the use of which the cloth feeder plate will be given a lateral oscillatory movement on each side of the buttonhole, and at the same time a longitudinal movement to advance the material with respect to the needle, and improved means whereby the needle will be caused to take a plurality of stitches after each lateral movement of the cloth feeder plate, on each side of the center of the buttonhole to lock the stitches "1 60 the fabric and before the cloth feeder plate is shifted laterally on each side of the center of the buttonhole.

A further object is to provide an improved combined stitch regulator and equalizer, which latter provides an acceleration due to the decrease of travel while approaching the dead center on the ends of the buttonhole, and for a short distance from the ends.

A further object is to provide an improved device of this character in which the parts are reversible to accommodate machines where the needles and presser foot bars are differontli located. a

lo the attainment of these ends and the cooniplishinent of other new and useful ob- 3 cts as will appear, the invention consists in the features of novelty in substantially the construction, combination and arrangement L of the several parts hereinafter more fully Serial No. 579,924.

described and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings illustrating this invention and in which Figure l is a perspective view of an attachment of this character constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention and showing the same as applied to the presser foot bar of an ordinary sewing machine.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view showing the manner in which the stitches are formed.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the attachment with parts br hen away and with parts of the needle bar and presser foot bar in hori- Zontal section.

Figure 4 is a detail top plan view of the stitch regulator and equalizer disc.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of the cloth feeder plate.

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional View taken on line 7-7, Figure 3. v

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 8 8, Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a vertical, transverse sectional view taken on line 99, Figure 3.

Figure 10 is a top plan view of the attachment, with parts broken away and showing the parts in a different position from the positions shown in Figure 3.

Figure 11 is a bottom plan view of the attachment with parts omitted.

Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 11, showing the parts in a diiferent position.

Figures 13 and 14: are top plan views of the forward portion of the cloth feeder plate showing the same in different positions it will assume while feeding the material during the operation of the sewing machine.

Referring more particularly to the drawings the numeral designates a base plate upon which are mounted various parts of the attachment, and projecting above the base plate is an upright- 21 having at its upper end a clamp or yoke 22 adapted to embrace the presser foot bar 23 of the sewing machine, after the presser foot has been removed. Screws 24 are provided and threaded into the yoke 22 to rigidly secure the attachment to the presser foot bar.

rear end.

one end as at 32 o the ease p ate 20, and the a projection 36 which car ries a ee in a )late or member ll and which plate v 3 ll at upon the base plate- 2) and other end thereof projects -oe -yond the other side of the base pla e 20 and is bent edge of a projecting portion 33 of thv plate as at 3 t, and a screw passes taroue the bent over portion or the lever beyond th edge of the portion 33 of the base alate to frlctionally bind or hold th lever in position after it has been moved about pivot L with . The plate or member 28 is pro 37 that projects into and operate slot 38 that extends through and nally of a cloth feeder plate 39.

The cam 26 operates withn an opening 40 or member is provided with a rojection 12 preferably of the ball type, i hicli and seated within a carr 4-4 that is pivotally mountelS a a L 802m Ir) A one end as the other end thereof projects beyond the edge or po' 46 of the base plate 2 l b edge of such pert-i 48 passes through the to frictionally bind the 1 portions so end of the lever e ver n2 wit respect to the projecting portion 46 of the base plate 20 so a to hold the lever a position to which it may be QCljUStml about its pivot 15.

i The plate 41 is also provided with a p"ojection 49 carrying a 0 ""l ich rojects ii to and als i t l t 38 in the cloth een; t e clot-h feeder plae 3o w-men: be pins longitudinal feeding me a feeder plate du 37 and 50 will coope qte v the slot 38 in the cloth feeder a manner to be later set forth and thereby impart a lateral oscillatory moi'en'ient to the cloth the advancing n of the cloth feeder plate as well 1 i of the plate so as to shift the active e i s of from one side to the other ter of the buttonhole.

The cam 25 is secures a rotatable ratche whe 51 (see particular Fieu dered to form a bear ng a3 upon which oscillatory cam mem which rests upon the .t cam member 54 is provided with teeth which teeth 56 on a segment member 5 mesh, the segment member being pivotally mounte as at 58 upon an upr ght 59 securl .L to

base plate 20 the cam member 5 1- beirg adapt- L iv viili ed for free oscillatory movement ab ut bearing 53 u on the pivotal tr rwacd are backward movement of the segment member 57.

Pitotaliy mounted upon the cam member 5d is a spring controlled pawl 60 which cooperates with shoulders 61 on the ratchet member 52 uo that upon the moven'ient of the segment member 57 about its pivot 58 the cam member 54; will be moved about its pivot and such movement of the cam member w ll cause the pawl 60 to engage one of the shouh ders 61 of tie ratchet member to rotate the latter, which in turn will retate the cam 25 to oscillate the member 2 about i s :ivot It will be understooc that the (:a n 25 is of a size to fit 'ithin the opening 2'? ol the member 28 and is so shaped as to co-operate with the side walls of the opening 2i n the member 28 to impar' the desired "scill movement to the member 28 at It its I An arm 62 is connected with the seginiznt member 57, preferably adjustable through the medium of a slot (53 through which the 'gr irot mei iber 58 passes to engage the segment ber 57. By loosening the pivot member H arm 62 may be moved length". a 1 through the medium of the slot (53 until desired position 01'' the arm (32 with z to the segment been obtained.

Tiie free end of the arm 62 is bifurcated as at- 64 and s adapted to receive the shank of the screw for securing the arm 62 to the needle bar 66 of the sewing machine, and

i'ch screw will be found on all sewing: machines being provided for the purposes oi securing the needle (37 to the needle ba Thus it will be manifest that as the needle bar 66 is raiseo and lowered, the arm (32 will be raised and lowered, with the r uit that the segment 57 will be roared about 5S and as the teeth 56 of the se' ment mwith the teeth 55 of the cam 5% a correspmiding oscillatory movement will be imparted to the cam 5% during the operation of the needle bar 66.

The cam 26 is secured to a reduced portion 68 of a hub 69 carried by an accelerator car: 70 and encompassing the hub (59 of the accelerator cam l 70 is a clutch member Tl, provide with substantially tangentially :u'range'l ces ?S 72, in which are ar 'angerl balls T for trictionally gripping the periphery of the hub. Springs 7% arealso provided in the recesses 72 and tend to urge the balls ward the end 0 the recesses and into tictional engagement with the hub (39. These springs may be held in their recesses in any suitable main er such as by means of a ball 75 seated in the recess and with a por'ion Ti; of the wall of the recess upset or flanged over the ball 75. P so arranged Tl e recesses :2 are in one direction the tendency of the balls i-i will be to recede to permit the clutch member 71 to move with respect to the hub but when the clutch member is moved in the opposite direction the balls 73 will frictionally the hub 09 ant. will turn the latter and wit-1i it the cam 26 and the accelerator cam 70, for a purpose to be set forth.

The clutch member 71 is operated by means of an arm 77 secured thereto and this arm projects over the base plate and in close proximity thereto. A st p78 having a shoulder 79. is pivotally mounted upon the beo plate :20, and the shoulder '79 is so arranged that it'may e positioned by moving the stop a the accelerator cam 70 will be moved periphery of the accelerator cam l0 so 78 about the pivot 80, so that the lever or arm 77 will engage the stop after any desired extent of movement of the arm 77, thereby controlling or regulating the extent to which upon each operative movement of the arm or lever 77. The stop member T8 is moved about its pivot in any desired or suitable manner, preferably by means of the screw 81 threaded through a portion 82 of the stop and he screw is provided with a knob or head 83 preferably having a knurled periphery, that the screw may be adjusted with respecc to the portion 82 of the stop. A spring may be provided to serve tension friction device for holding the screw in adjusting position.

Figures 7 and 10) is adapted to engap' the position of the shoulder 79 on the 78 will be controlled by the accelerator 70. This cam 70 (see particularly Figures 3 and is preferably elliptical in cross section, that is with the portion 85 of smaller diameter than the portion 86 of the cam, so that as th cam is rotated the position of the shoulder 79 will. be varied by the extent of movement of the stop 78 about its pivot 80, and this varying movement will be accomplished by the different portions of the periphery of the cam 70 moving into engagement with the end of the screw 81. A suitable spring 87 is provided which tends normally to move the arm 7'? against the shoulder 79 of the stop.

T he arm *4"? and with the clutch member 71 are adapted to be moved against the stress of the spring 87 and away from the stop 7 9 by means of tie cam 54 which engages the end of the arm 7, the latter being located in close proximity thereto to move the arm away from such shoulder and against the stress of the spring 87, gradually as the high portion of the cam 5% moves into cont ct with the arm 77. As the low portion of the cam approaches the arm 77, the spring 8? tends to move the arm 77 against the shoulder 79 of the stop 1 8.

Thus it will be manifest that the rotation of the accelerator cam 70 and hub 69 depend upon the oscillatory movement of the clutch member 71 and the arm 7? and this in turn is controlled by the actuation of the cam 54. The cam is oscillated by means of the reciprocation of the needle bar 66, through the medium of the arm 62, segment member 5?, and teeth 56 meshing with the teeth 55 on the cam 54.

l he base plate 20 is suitably recessed so as to receive the cams 25 and 26 as well as the members 2 l-l. The cloth feeder plate arranged below the base plate 20 and is provided with an elongated opening 88 through its body portion which extends for a considerable distance lengthwise of the plate and is held in position with respect to the base plate 20 by means of a cap plate 89, havsecured to the inner face thereof and in i te nediate its ends, leaf spring 30. The end of the spring 90 are yieldingly spaced h to project into the opening 88 in the n feeder plate 39, and to rest against th tom faces of the cams 25 and of the plates or members Q'8ll. This plate is held position by means of suitable screws The screw 91 passes through the mar 89 and is provided with a head engaging the outer surface of the plate while the screw itself passes through the spring 90 and is threaded into the hub or portion 51 of the ratchet wheel The screw also passes s from the face of the ca") plate 89 and are of L l A.

UK; throu 'h the plate 89 as well as through an operin the spri and is provided whlch en the outer surface 12- H oi the plate 89 and 1S tl leaned into the llllu 9 in the accelerator cam 40. The spring; 90

serves a friction device or brake to prevent overthrow of the parts.

i ll' extremity 93 of the cloth feeder plat s preferably reduced in vf o 5 ie width of the feeder pl ects beyond the forward edge of the case late 20 having an elongated slot therethrough. The lower face of the reduced por tion 93 of the feeder plate is provided with teeth which also extend about the outer periphery as well as the inner periphery of the portion 98 to engage the cloth to advance .L is on iing 9% is of considerab e width w h r-wiaect to the diameter of lie and of 3 width to permit of an cry movemert being imparted to the plate on "b i he b ittonhole as er more fully describ sses througzi this 'i u, 39 and H0- above the rear end of the cloth 9 is an uprig it 96 which is proforwardly proi mrtion to hich portion is pivoted as at a link screw 101. m

1e ower face of the slide 100 is preferably recessed as at 102 and undercut. A guide or rib 103 is secured to the uppe face of the accelerator cam and shaped to fitwithin the recess 102, the rib being sec ed to the accelerator cam in any suitable manner, such as by means of suitable screws 10%. The screw 101 preferably a thumb w and passes tlnough :1 head 105 with wh 1 a shoulder 106 on the thumb screw cooperates, so that by adjusting the thumb screw to loosen the same the slide 100 may be adjusted lengthwise of the rib or gu 103. in directions toward and away from tl axis of rotation of the accelerator cam 70 and by such adjustment, the length of longitudinal movement of the cloth feeder plate may be varied.

In the operation of the device the cam 25 during its rotation, will impart a lateral oseillatory movement to the cloth feeder plate and the rapidity of such oscillatory movement will be controlled by the rapidity of the operation of the needle of the sewing ma chine.

As the needle rises and falls the cam 25 will be rotated and the cam is so shaped that the desired extent of oscillatory movement will be imparted to the cloth feeder plate. As the cam 25 rotates, the plate or member 27 will be rocked about its pivot (see Figure 11) and through the medium of the pin 37 and slot 38 in the cloth feeder plate 30, oscillatory movement will be imparted to the plate and during this oscillatory movement the cam 26 will be rotated through the me dium of the clutch member 71. As the cam 5 11 is oscillated, the pawl 60 co-operating with the ratchet wheel 52 will rotate the cam 25 and by the oscillation of the cam 5 1, the arm 7'7 of the clutch member 71 will be moved against the stress of. the spring 87, and through the medium of the balls 73 acting upon the periphery of the hub 69 of the accelerator cam 70, the latter will be rotated. The extent of rotation of the accelerator cam will be controlled by the po. n of the screw 81 which controls the position of the shoulder 79 of the stop 78.

As the accelerator cam 70 rotates the link 99 will cause the cloth feeeer plate to be advanced longitudinally. As the accelerator cam 70 rotates the cam 26 will also rotate and this am is so shaped that it will co-operate with the sides or walls of the opening e0 in the member to shift the cloth feeder plate from one side to the other side of the center of the buttonhole, and this shifting movement occurs as the cloth feeder plate moves the cloth with respect to the needle at the end of the buttonhole so as to cause a stitching around the ends of the buttonhole.

The cam 25 is so shaped that a lateral. oscillatory movement will be given to the cloth feeder plate on each side of the buttonhole and the cam 25 is also so shaped that an interval of rest in the lateral oscillation will be given to the cloth feeder plate during every other stitch of the needle. That is, the cam 25 will hold the cloth feeder plate in such a manner that the needle will be caused to make a plurality of stitches at the end of each successive lateral movement as shown diagrammatically in Figure 2, so that the thread will lock into the cloth, and with the further result that perfect stitches will be formed at the ends of the buttonhole and the stitches will not pile up while the needle is rounding the ends of the buttonhole.

By the adjustment of the end of the link 99 with respect to the accelerator cam 70, toward or away from the axis of rotation of the cam the length of the advancing movement of the cloth feeder plate may be controlled or varied and by the adjustment of the screw 81 co-operating with the periphery of the accelerator cam 70, the length of the stitches or space between the stitches may be varied. Also by the adjustmentof the screw 81, the degree of acceleration of the advancing movement of the cloth feeder plate may be varied.

In Figure 13, the cloth feeder plate is shown in dotted lines in the position which it will assume during the formation of the stitches or the lateral oscillation of the cloth feeder plate on one side of the buttonhole, and in full lines the position which the cloth feeder plate will assume as it moves across one end of the buttonhole to the other side of the center of the buttonhole.

Likewise in Figure 14, the same steps of operation are indicated, showing in dotted line the position which the cloth feeder plate will assume while forming the stitches on the other side of the buttonhole, and in full lines the manner in which the cloth feeder plate moves to the other side of the buttonhole as the stitches are made around the end of the buttonhole.

In order to provide a means for adjusting or fitting the mechanism to different 1nachines, the upright 21 instead of being formed as a part of the base plate (see particularly Figure 1) it is formed separately therefrom and the upright 21 is secured to a base 107 which is provided with slots 108. This plate 107 is adapted to rest upon the base plate 20 and to be secured thereto by means of fastening screws 109 which pass through the slots 108 and into the base plate 20. By loosening these screws 109 it will be manifest that the whole structure which is supported by the upright 20 may be adjusted with relation to the base 107 and thereby vary the position of the mechanism with respect to the presser foot bar 23.

In applying this apparatus to a machine, it is first necessary to remove the presser foot and then to cover up the feed plate on ordinary machines. To that end a plate 110 is provided, which has an opening 111 therethrough and through which opening 111 the needle 67 passes. This plate 110 is placed in position over the feed device in the sewing machine and is secured in position by means of suita le fastening screws 112 passing through slot 113 in the bed of the sewing machine.

In Figure 2 there is diagrammatically illustrated the manner in which the two stitches are made between each successive step of oscillation of the cloth feeder plate, two of the stitches 114 being formed by the needle at the end of each lateral movement of the cloth feeder plate.

By adjusting the levers 31 and 4 1 about their respective pivots 32 and 45, it will be manifest that the degree of oscillatory movement of the plates or members 28--4:1 may be varied and through this means the extent of oscillatory movement and of advancing movement of the cloth feeder plate may be varied.

The cam is provided with an active face 25* which co-op-erates with the plate or member 28 for causing the oscillatory movement of the plate about the pivot 29. This surface 25 is of a sufficient length that the attachment will be adapted to be applied to machines in which the needle bars of the machine have different lengths of strokes, and regardless of the length of stroke of the needle bar, the cam surface 25 will always maintain the oscillation of the plate or member 28 in timed relation with the stroke of the particular length stroke of the needle bar. This will obviate the necessity of the adjustment of the parts when the attachment is applied to machines in which the needle bars vary in the length of their stroke.

lVhile the preferred form of the invention has been herein shown and described, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, within the scope of the claims, without departing from the spirit of this invention.

l i hat is claimed as new is 1. In a buttonhole working attachment for sewing machines, a cloth feeder plate, means for advancing the plate, and means for imparting a lateral oscillatory movement to the plate on each side of the center of the buttonhole, the last recited means embodying mechanism for causing the needle to make a plurality of stitches between successive lat eral movements.

2. In a buttonhole working attachment for sewing machines, a cloth feeder plate, means for advancing the plate, means for imparting a lateral oscillatory movement to the plate on each side of the center of the buttonhole, the last recited means embodying mechanism for causing the needle to make a plurality of stitches between successive lateral movements, and means for varying at will the extent of such lateral oscillatory movements.

3. In a buttonhole working attachment for sewing machines, a cloth feeder plate, means for advancing the plate, mean" for imparting a. lateral oscillatory mov .ncnt to the plate on each side of the center of the buttonhole, the last recited means embodying mechanism for causing the needle to make a plurality stitches between successive lateral movements, and means for varying at will the extent of the advancing movement of the cloth feeder plate.

l. In a buttonhole making attachment for sewing machines, a base plate, a lever pivotally mounted by one end upon said plate, means adjustably securing the other end of the lever to the base plate, an oscillatory plate, means pivotally connecting said oscillatory plate to said lever, said oscillator) plate having an opening therein, a cam fitting in said opening, cloth feeder plate, means for longitudinally moving said cloth feeder plate with respect to the base plate, said cloth feeder plate having a slot tnerehrough and extending longitudinally thercof, and a pin on said oscillatory plate projecting into said slot for imparting oscillatory movement to the cloth feeder plate, said pin and slot operating to permit longitudinal movement to the cloth feeder plate.

5. In a buttonhole making attachment for sewing machines, a base plate, a lever pivotally mounted by one end upon said plate, the other end of the lever extending around the edge of the base plate, a fastening screw passin through the wall of the bent portion of the lever and operating to clamp the end of the lever to the base plate against adjustment, an oscillatory plate, means pivotally connecting said oscillatory plate to said lever, said oscillatory plate having an opening therein, a cam fitting in said opening, acloth feeder plate, means for longitudinally moving said cloth feeder plate with respect to the base plate, said cloth feeder plate having a slot therethrough and extending longitudinally thereof, and a pin on said oscillatory plate projecting into said slot for imparting oscillatorymovement to the cloth feeder plate, said pin and slot operating to permit longitudinal movement to the cloth feeder plate.

6. In a buttonhole making attachmentfor sewing machines, a base plate, two levers piv otally connected by one end to the base plate, two oscillatory plates each pivotally connected to one of the levers intermediate the ends of the latter, means adjustably securing the other ends of the levers to the base plate, said plates having central openings therein, a rotary oscillating movement producing cam fitting in one of said openlngs, a switch cam in the other opening, a cloth feeder plate mounted to travel beneath the cam actuated plates, said cloth feeder plate having a longitudinal slot therein, projections on said oscillator Y lates extendin into said slot, means for actuating said cams, and means for advancing the cloth feeder plate.

7. In a buttonhole making attachment for sewing machines, a base plate, two levers pivotally connected with the plate, two oscillatory plates pivotally connected with the respective levers, means adjustably securing the free ends of the levers to the base plate Whereby the extent of oscillatory movement of said plates about their points of pivotal connection with the levers may be varied, said plates having openings theret-hrough, a rotary oscillating movement producing cam fitting in one of said plates, a switch cam fitting in the opening in the other plate, a cloth feeder plate mounted to travel beneath the cam actuated plates, said cloth feeder plate having a longitudinal slot therein, projections on the oscillating plates extending into said slot, means for actuating the cams, and means responsive to the rotation of one of the cams to advance the cloth feeder plate.

8. In a buttonhole making attachment for sewing machines, a base plate, two levers pivotally connected with the plate, two oscillatory plates pivotally connected with the respective levers, means adjustably securing the free ends of the levers to the base plate whereby the extent of oscillatory movement of said plates about their points of pivotal connection with the levers may be varied, said plates having openings therethrough, a rotary oscillating movement producing cam fitting in one of said plates, a switch cam fitting in the opening in the other plate, a cloth feeder plate mounted to travel beneath the cam actuated plates, said cloth feeder plate having a longitudinal slot therein, projections on the oscillatory plates extending into said slot, means for actuating the cams, means responsive to the rotation of one of the cams to advance the cloth feeder plate, and means whereby the extent of advancing movement of the cloth feeder plate may be varied.

9. In a buttonhole making attachment for sewing machines, a base plate, two levers pivotally connected with the plate, two oscillatory plates pivotally connected with the respective levers, means adjustably securing the free ends of the levers to the base plate whereby the extent of oscillatory movement of said plates about their points of pivotal connection with the levers maybe varied, said plates having openings therethrough, a rotary oscillating movement producing cam fitting in one of said plates, a switch cam fitting in the opening in the other plate, a cloth feed plate mounted to travel beneath the cam actuated plates, said cloth feed plate having a longitudinal slot therein, projections on the oscillatory plates extending into said slot,

means for actuating the cams, means responsive to the rotation of one of the cams to advance the cloth feed plate, means whereby the extent of advancing movement of the cloth feed plate may be varied, and means operatively related to the cloth feed plate advancing means for accelerating the movement of said feed plate.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, on this 25th day of November, A. D. 1931.

FRANKLIN SPAULDING. 

